Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Organ Donation Among the Population of Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Organ donation plays a pivotal role in addressing the global demand for transplantable organs and saving lives. The success of organ transplantation relies not only on medical advancements but also on the willingness of communities to participate in organ donation programs. In Saudi Arabia, specifically within the Al-Majma'ah region, understanding the dynamics of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to organ donation is crucial for promoting a sustainable and ethical organ donation system. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective study was utilized in this research, employing data from a sample of 564 participants from the general population of the Al-Majma'ah region, Saudi Arabia. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and ensured anonymity. RESULTS: About 545 (96.6%) respondents were familiar with the concept of organ donation, and 455 (80.7%) participants recognized the necessity for the blood groups of the donor and recipient to match before the transplant process. About 412 (73.0%) participants agreed with the practice of organ donation with 326 (57.8%) expressing support for the practice. About 417 (73.9%) participants reported that their religion permits or endorses organ donation/transplantation. A total of 151 individuals (26.8%) had a low knowledge level, with total scores below 50% (6 or lower). In contrast, 280 people (4.7%) demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge (scoring between 50% and 75%) (7 to 9). Additionally, 133 individuals (23.5%) showcased a high level of knowledge, with scores exceeding 75% (10 or higher). The study established a statistically significant association between age, marital status with p-values < 0.05 (0.001*), and the knowledge score toward organ donation. However, gender and monthly household income were not significantly associated with knowledge score toward organ transplant with p-values (p-value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The research findings indicated a moderate level of knowledge and a positive attitude toward organ donation among the general population of the Al-Majma'ah region in Saudi Arabia. Age and marital status were found to be significantly associated with the knowledge score toward organ donation. The study noted the desire and willingness to save lives through organ donation by the residents of the Al-Majma'ah region in Saudi Arabia.

A High-Performance Cr2O3/CaCO3 Nanocomposite Catalyst for Rapid Hydrogen Generation from NaBH4.

This study aims to prepare new nanocomposites consisting of Cr2O3/CaCO3 as a catalyst for improved hydrogen production from NaBH4 methanolysis. The new nanocomposite possesses nanoparticles with the compositional formula Cr2-xCaxO3 (x = 0, 0.3, and 0.6). These samples were prepared using the sol-gel method, which comprises gelatin fuel. The structure of the new composites was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD data showed the rhombohedral crystallinity of the studied samples, and the average crystal size was 25 nm. The FTIR measurements represented the absorption bands of Cr2O3 and CaO. The ESEM micrographs of the Cr2O3 showed the spherical shape of the Cr2O3 nanoparticles. The XPS measurements proved the desired oxidation states of the Cr2-xCaxO3 nanoparticles. The optical band gap of Cr2O3 is 3.0 eV, and calcium doping causes a reduction to 2.5 and 1.3 eV at 15.0 and 30.0% doping ratios. The methanolysis of NaBH4 involved accelerated H2 production when using Cr2-xCaxO3 as a catalyst. Furthermore, the Cr1.7Ca0.3O3 catalyst had the highest hydrogen generation rate, with a value of 12,750 mL/g/min.

Awareness of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in the Population of Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant global health concern and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. As a complex cardiovascular condition, CAD arises from the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques within the coronary arteries, leading to restricted blood flow to the heart muscle. While CAD has been extensively studied, its prevalence remains a challenge, particularly in diverse populations with distinct cultural and lifestyle practices. OBJECTIVES:  To assess the awareness of risk factors for CAD in the population of Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS:  The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine participants' awareness of CAD risk factors among the population of Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia. It was conducted by the use of a self-administered questionnaire that had been validated in prior research publications. Sociodemographic information as well as the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors were covered in the survey. The data analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). RESULTS: A total of 919 individuals were enrolled in the current study after meeting the inclusion criteria. The results showed that most of the respondents 626 (68.1%) had a good level of awareness, 261 (28.4%) had a fair level of awareness, while only 32 (3.5%) of the respondents had a poor level of CAD risk factors awareness. CONCLUSION: The majority of participants had a good level of knowledge regarding CAD risk factors. The correlation between monthly income and awareness of coronary artery risk factors was statistically significant.

Awareness of Interventional Radiology Among Medical Students at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that employs imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI to guide minimally invasive procedures for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical disorders. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the level of IR awareness among medical students at Majmaah University. METHODS: The cross-sectional investigation was carried out among the medical students at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire that had been pretested was used to gather the data. SPSS Statistics (IBM Corp. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp) was used to analyze the data. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative data, and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were 202 students who participated in this study, and among them, the majority were males, 126 (62.4%), and the majority of them were pre-clinical students, 105 (52.0%). Knowledge of routinely performed procedures by IR (only by a radiologist) was assessed; 116 (57.4%) of them responded with paracontinuous transluminal coronary angioplasty, 105 (52.0%) with central venous access, and 100 (49.5%) with lower arterial limp percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, which are routinely performed procedures by the radiologists. There was no significant difference in knowledge levels between genders. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness of IR among medical students is essential to improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare challenges. Efforts to educate and expand access to IR services must be prioritized to ensure that medical students receive a comprehensive education and that patients receive the highest quality care possible.

Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes Regarding Basic Life Support Among the General Population in the Al-Majma'ah Region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest is a critical medical emergency that can strike individuals of any age or background, often occurring suddenly and unpredictably. The administration of Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques by laypersons in the first few crucial minutes following a cardiac arrest can substantially increase the chances of survival and minimize potential neurological damage. Despite the vital role of BLS in saving lives, there remains a gap in public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding BLS among the general population in many regions worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of community-based interventions to enhance cardiac arrest survival rates. Public involvement in the early stages of cardiac arrest management is a key component of the chain of survival, and improving BLS awareness and knowledge among the general population is central to this effort. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes with regard to BLS among the general population in the Al-Majma'ah region, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study adopted among the population living in the Al-Majma'ah region of Saudi Arabia. The data was collected by a pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The questions included information on social demographic information, awareness and knowledge, and attitudes related to BLS. RESULTS: More than half the participants (n=352; 52.5%) understand that during cardiac arrest, the heart is still beating and pumping blood, but the person is not breathing normally. This is an important understanding for providing proper care during a cardiac arrest situation. On the other hand, the study found that 384 (57.2%) had various reasons for their lack of knowledge about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The biggest reason was lack of interest (n=98; 14.6%). This highlights a need for increased awareness and education about the importance of CPR. The findings from the Pearson correlation conducted in this study show that age has a significant influence on the level of awareness and knowledge of cardiac arrest BLS. The p-value obtained for the test was 0.014, indicating that there is a significant relationship between age and awareness and knowledge of BLS. Similarly, the study findings also show that gender has a significant influence on the attitude of cardiac arrest BLS. CONCLUSION: The participants had a decent understanding of BLS, particularly regarding concepts like cardiac arrest and the role of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). However, they showed confusion or gaps in awareness, especially concerning the correct initial steps when encountering a collapsed person. Many participants felt uncomfortable performing Hands-Only CPR in a real-life situation due to a lack of knowledge and skills, which acted as a significant barrier to public CPR performance.

Synthesis of Sulfur@g-C3N4 and CuS@g-C3N4 Catalysts for Hydrogen Production from Sodium Borohydride.

In this work, the S@g-C3N4 and CuS@g-C3N4 catalysts were prepared via the polycondensation process. The structural properties of these samples were completed on XRD, FTIR and ESEM techniques. The XRD pattern of S@g-C3N4 presents a sharp peak at 27.2° and a weak peak at 13.01° and the reflections of CuS belong to the hexagonal phase. The interplanar distance decreased from 0.328 to 0.319 nm that facilitate charge carrier separation and promoting H2 generation. FTIR data revealed the structural change according to absorption bands of g-C3N4. ESEM images of S@g-C3N4 exhibited the described layered sheet structure for g-C3N4 materials and CuS@g-C3N4 demonstrated that the sheet materials were fragmented throughout the growth process. The data of BET revealed a higher surface area (55 m2/g) for the CuS-g-C3N4 nanosheet. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of S@g-C3N4 showed a strong peak at 322 nm, which weakened after the growth of CuS at g-C3N4. The PL emission data showed a peak at 441 nm, which correlated with electron-hole pair recombination. The data of hydrogen evolution showed improved performance for the CuS@g-C3N4 catalyst (5227 mL/g·min). Moreover, the activation energy was determined for S@g-C3N4 and CuS@g-C3N4, which showed a lowering from 47.33 ± 0.02 to 41.15 ± 0.02 KJ/mol.

Preparation and Optical Properties of PVDF-CaFe2O4 Polymer Nanocomposite Films.

In this work, a synthesis technique for highly homogeneous PVDF-CaFe2O4 polymer films direct from solution was developed. The structural characterizations were conducted using XRD, FTIR, and ESEM experimental techniques. The XRD characteristic peaks of CaFe2O4 nanoparticles revealed a polycrystalline structure. The average crystallite size for CaFe2O4 was calculated to be 17.0 nm. ESEM micrographs of PVDF nanocomposites containing 0.0, 0.25, 0.75, and 1.0 wt% of CaFe2O4 showed smooth surface topography. The direct Edir and indirect Eind band gap energies for the PVDF-CaFe2O4 nanocomposites were decreased with the additions of 0.0-1.0 wt% CaFe2O4. In addition, the refractive index (n0) increased from 3.38 to 10.36, and energy gaps (Eg) decreased from 5.50 to 4.95 eV. The nonlinear refractive index (n2) for the PVDF-CaFe2O4 nanocomposites was improved with the addition of CaFe2O4 nanoparticles, exceeding those reported in the literature for PVC, PVA, and PMMA nanocomposites. Therefore, the PVDF-CaFe2O4 nanocomposites are expected to take the lead in optoelectronic applications because of their unusual optical properties.

MoO3/S@g-C3N4 Nanocomposite Structures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Hydrogen Catalytic Performance.

Hydrogen production as a source of clean energy is high in demand nowadays to avoid environmental issues originating from the use of conventional energy sources i.e., fossil fuels. In this work and for the first time, MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposite is functionalized for hydrogen production. Sulfur@graphitic carbon nitride (S@g-C3N4)-based catalysis is prepared via thermal condensation of thiourea. The MoO3, S@g-C3N4, and MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), STEM, and spectrophotometer. The lattice constant (a = 3.96, b = 13.92 Å) and the volume (203.4 Å3) of MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 were found to be the highest compared with MoO3, MoO3/20-%S@g-C3N4, and MoO3/30%S@g-C3N4, and that led to highest band gap energy of 4.14 eV. The nanocomposite sample MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 showed a higher surface area (22 m2/g) and large pore volume (0.11 cm3/g). The average nanocrystal size and microstrain for MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 were found to be 23 nm and -0.042, respectively. The highest hydrogen production from NaBH4 hydrolysis ~22,340 mL/g·min was obtained from MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 nanocomposites, while 18,421 mL/g·min was obtained from pure MoO3. Hydrogen production was increased when increasing the masses of MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4.

In Situ Polycondensation Synthesis of NiS-g-C3N4 Nanocomposites for Catalytic Hydrogen Generation from NaBH4.

The nanocomposites of S@g-C3N4 and NiS-g-C3N4 were synthesized for catalytic hydrogen production from the methanolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Several experimental methods were applied to characterize these nanocomposites such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The calculation of NiS crystallites revealed an average size of 8.0 nm. The ESEM and TEM images of S@g-C3N4 showed a 2D sheet structure and NiS-g-C3N4 nanocomposites showed the sheet materials that were broken up during the growth process, revealing more edge sites. The surface areas were 40, 50, 62, and 90 m2/g for S@g-C3N4, 0.5 wt.% NiS, 1.0 wt.% NiS, and 1.5 wt.% NiS, respectively. The pore volume of S@g-C3N4 was 0.18 cm3, which was reduced to 0.11 cm3 in 1.5 wt.% NiS owing to the incorporation of NiS particles into the nanosheet. We found that the in situ polycondensation preparation of S@g-C3N4 and NiS-g-C3N4 nanocomposites increased the porosity of the composites. The average values of the optical energy gap for S@g-C3N4 were 2.60 eV and decreased to 2.50, 2.40, and 2.30 eV as the NiS concentration increased from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.%. All NiS-g-C3N4 nanocomposite catalysts had an emission band that was visible in the 410-540 nm range and the intensity of this peak decreased as the NiS concentration increased from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.%. The hydrogen generation rates increased with increasing content of NiS nanosheet. Moreover, the sample 1.5 wt.% NiS showed the highest production rate of 8654 mL/g·min due to the homogeneous surface organization.

Deepening Fornix Technique Using Central Split-Medium Thickness Skin Graft to Treat Contracted Anophthalmic Sockets.

PURPOSE: The aim of thhis study was to present the outcomes of postauricular split-medium thickness skin graft (SMTSG) to treat anophthalmic sockets with contracted fornices. METHODS: This case series enrolled patients with grade 2 or 3 anophthalmic sockets between 2015 and 2016. Data were collected on patient demographics, objective and subjective parameters preoperatively and 180 days postoperatively. Success of the surgery was graded on the height of the graft, the depth of the superior and inferior fornices, and presence/abscence of lagophthalmos, entropion, and ability to retain an external prosthesis. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were enrolled with a mean age of 35.9 ±â€Š18 years. The median height of the graft was 22 mm (25% quartile = 18.75) when removed and 20 mm (25% quartile = 16) postoperatively. The median depth of the superior fornix was 6.5 mm (25% quartile = 4.5 mm) preoperatively and 10 mm (25% quartile = 8 mm) postoperatively (P = 0.5). The median inferior fornix depth was 7 mm (25% quartile = 3.5 mm) preoperatively and 8 mm (25% quartile = 5 mm) (P = 0.27) postoperatively. Preoperatively, there were 13 (72.2%) patients with lagophthalmos, 10 (44.4%) with entropion, 3 (37.5%) with poor prosthesis retention, and 5 (62.5%) who were unable to retain the prosthesis. Postoperatively, 7 (38.9%) patients had lagophthamos, 1 (5.6%) had entropion, and all the patients could retain the prosthesis. None of the sockets had a foul odor postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Postauricular SMTSG achieves successful outcomes for the treatment of contracted anophthalmic sockets, reshaping the anterior socket surface and deepening the fornices.